Suburbia

I guess I get both sides of the suburbs debate… I grew up in a small suburb in a really small town. I call it the Clemson of Alabama. Everyone knows everyone and everything, literally everything, about you, before you even know it. I will say it was nice growing up in a little suburb, there was the community pool, sports facilities, water park, and an elementary school that everyone went to. When you are young its nice being so close to all your friends and being able to ride your bike anywhere and your parents knowing you are safe.

As I have gotten older while I still love the idea of being part of a community, I also want to be right in the hustle and bustle of everything. I am apartment hunting right now in Birmingham, AL and this is kind of what I am running into right now. Do I go farther away from the nightlife and city to get more bang for my buck or do I get a smaller place downtown in the heart of everything… It is trying to find the balance of location and community especially when you are going somewhere new-ish or at least new in the sense that you want to be able to meet new people and experience everything a city has to offer.